The Portage la Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce is celebrating their 130th anniversary. The local chamber was founded in 1886, and communications chair Preston Meier feels their work has only become more relevant over the years.

"There's been a number of prominent business local business people that have dedicated a lot of time over the years to help and make the chamber as successful and relevant as it is today. We believe that trend continues. We have a very strong board of individuals that are dedicated to putting the time in to do what they can to help local business. We also feel with the challenges a lot of businesses face, the Portage and District Chamber of Commerce is even more relevant today than in the past."

Chamber president Dave Omichinski shares that feeling, noting they've increased their advocacy efforts in recent years. He notes while the call for an additional outlet on Lake Manitoba was a major one, they also focused on other issues impacting local businesses.

"We took a resolution to the Manitoba Chambers AGM that was passed unanimously on the Assiniboine flood issue as it relates to the second channel on Lake Manitoba, compensation to those impacted, as well as long-term strategy. Another example that's more current is we've had Reeve Kam Blight talking to the chamber board as it relates to looking at petitioning the province to remove the $5,000 tax rebate cap for school taxes."

He says another focus of their advocacy efforts relates to the creation of a sustainable funding model for municipalities, rather than ad hoc grants that must be applied for to receive funding for individual projects.

Omichinski notes their 130th Anniversary falls on an exciting year, as they're prepared to host the chambers from across the province during the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce AGM later this year.